City of Stirling councillor Re-primanded over behaviour towards staff member

A CITY of Stirling councillor has breached Local Government Regulations by “humiliating” and “intimidating” a council staffer.

The Local Government Standards Panel found Councillor Elizabeth Re made an improper use of her office as a council member to cause detriment to a staff member, causing her to be humiliated, denigrated and intimidated in her employment and to cause others to think less favourably of her.

Acting chief executive Ross Povey said Cr Re had received a memo advising her that it was inappropriate for her to discuss staffing matters with the staff themselves and that any staffing complaints must be raised with senior management.

“Cr Re accused the staff member of being ‘the source of information’ behind the memo and was being aggressive towards the staff member,” he said.

“A senior staff member had to intervene.”

The Panel found Cr Re breached ‘Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations – Securing personal advantage or disadvantaging others’.

Through her lawyer, Cr Re confirmed she was appealing the findings with the State Administrative Tribunal but said it was understood she was not permitted by the City to make comments on matters to the media and would not be doing so on this occasion.

Mr Povey said the City had a Code of Conduct and Cr Re’s behaviour had been found to not meet the standards expected.

“The Mayor immediately apologised to the staff member on the way Cr Re had treated her,” he said.

In 2010, Cr Re received a defamation caution after it was found an email newsletter she wrote caused detriment to Stirling Mayor Giovanni Italiano and another councillor.